Sunday, July 12, 2015

The Mobile Shack

Followers of my IT blog already are aware of the fact that I am fitting out a worker's van for camping and other spare time activities.
Over the last years (maybe even decade) I was neglecting my radio hobby. The van is meant to be one of the remedies. It is presently arranged to survive a few days in it, however, the van still lacks radio equipment.

Readily available options are the following:

20m PSK as base gear

the 20m Pex-Al-Pex loop

fishing-pole elevated dipole

30m PSK for mail

TenTec Scout #555 (low power consumption and punchy audio)

Icom IC-M710 (even punchier audio) w/ respective auto-tuner

Vertex Standard VX-1700

PCT-IIe

Further thoughts add digital radio such as D-STAR or DMR. Since I got zero experience in that field, I just started my research. As appealing the digital world is, as confusing it is!

Presently, I am somewhat sure about the computing device I will use:

HP Stylistic ST4120

respective docking station

respective 12V power supply

This thing presently runs WinXP. Years ago, I bought this thing (used) to be the board computer of my sailing boat. For unknown reasons, the PC never made it aboard.

Things I need to do before getting serious with radio in the van:

install one or more service batteries

install a charger for the service batteries

install a VHF/UHF antenna

solar panels?

create an RF-ground device

The van also needs a decent WiFi solution. I presently research the possibilities.

BTW, the van is a Mercedes-Benz Vito (2008). Some told me that Vito's are supposed to be like regular cars. Well, driving one, I can tell you that the allover feel of a Vito is more like driving a semi than a people carrier.